Does Teeth Whitening Work for Everyone?

Are you not happy with your smile? Do they look a little more yellow than what you would want them to? Maybe you have tried using those over-the-counter teeth whitening strips before but they did not give you the results that you want. Fortunately, you do not have to suffer yellowed, stained teeth forever, all thanks to professional teeth whitening from your dentist. With dental-grade whitening treatment, you can finally enjoy pearly whites.

Teeth whitening is a popular and effective treatment in cosmetic dentistry. It works in correcting a wide range of discoloration and stains. Take, note, however, that whitening does not work for all types of tooth staining. It helps to consult your dentist to know if this procedure will work for you. Read on to learn if teeth whitening works for everyone.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

During a teeth whitening treatment, the dentist will paint the teeth with a professional-strength bleaching agent that works to remove stains from the teeth’ surfaces. The bleaching agent is left to sit on the teeth for about twenty minutes before it is reapplied. A tooth whitening procedure usually involves three applications. It can be done in just one day and should take about an hour to complete.

Another option is the use of trays. The dentist will take impressions of your teeth which he will then use to create trays that perfectly fit your bite. You will wear these trays with a bleaching gel for about 30 minutes each day. The main ingredient of this bleaching gel is either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Once pressed against the teeth, the active ingredient permeates to the enamel, removing stains above and below the teeth’ surface. You can expect the best results after about two weeks of treatment.

Teeth whitening works best if the staining is on the teeth’ surface. These kinds of stains are called extrinsic staining. Surface straining usually responds well to whitening treatments. However, other kinds of staining might have to be addressed with another cosmetic treatment like veneers.

Factors Affecting Teeth Whitening

There are unfortunate instances where even professional teeth whitening will not work on every tooth in every mouth. There are some factors that need to be considered in determining if a whitening treatment will benefit you.

Dental restorations. Existing dental work like fillings, crowns, or veneers is not affected by the bleaching gels used in teeth whitening. Thus, these restorations will definitely stand out in your smile if the rest of the teeth are whitening. Before going through professional teeth whitening, you might want to consider replacing any restorations so that they reflect the new shade of your teeth.
Genetics. The color of your teeth’ enamel is already decided right at birth. It is fact that some people simply have naturally whiter teeth than others. Although their teeth will become whiter and brighter following treatment, their teeth will soon go back to their natural color.
Cause of discoloration. If the stain in your teeth was caused by medication, there is a chance that it might not respond well to professional teeth whitening. The same can also go for teeth discolored by injury or trauma. These kinds of stains usually happen deep in the tooth, which cannot be fully penetrated by the bleaching gel.

Ultimately, your dentist is the best judge of teeth whitening and will work effectively for your particular case. They can thoroughly evaluate your general medical history and oral health and determine if you can benefit from this cosmetic treatment. If you feel that your smile can benefit from this cosmetic treatment, do not hesitate to ask your dentist if teeth whitening will work for you.